Cornado

I truly believe the driver is the one who decides what the mileage will be . If a driver shifts high rpms , keeps the foot in it and has to be king of the hill or and has to pass every truck out there that truck will never see good fuel mileage .

Now take that same truck and shift at recomended shift points , set the cruise control for the highway speed and keep the jakes off unless a steep grade requires the jakes to get down the grade .

For normal highway driving with 3 percent downhill or less let the truck roll down the hill with a little foot brake if needed and roll back up the hill .
I run like this every day and my mileage shows it .

A driver will make "the" difference in all cases . It's not always about the shape of the truck ...

 

The jake can make a difference in MPG? I did not know that. I always use it to save on brakes and keeping them cool.

 

Yes using the Jakes does use more fuel . Our company has tested it and myself as well . I agree with you with saving the brakes but if you are just rolling up and down small grades try just rolling up and down and let the wieght of the load behind you help you up the hill . Why slow it down before you get up the hill ?

I'm not talking about long steep grades here . I'm sure most here know what I mean about rolling hills compared to steep grades .

Try it for yourselves and you will see it works and it will save you money as well .

Happy Trails

 

I usually use my jake when I am in congested traffic. My opinion is that if I am going to hit the brakes to slow down the jake has already started to slow down the truck. I was told constantly that the brakes on these big trucks are not designed to stop a rig at 80k very well so I try to keep the brakes as cool as I can in case I them in an emergency they are at peak performance. I don't know if that makes sense or not. I have never smoked the brakes on any of my trucks.

 

Style IS worth something! And nothing has the style of a large car! But I am confused, how do the jakes rob economy? I thought they were only on when you let off the pedal, so how would it hurt cruising?

 

Jakes dont rob fuel economy, people who think that its been proven are being given placebos. Do you guys understand how a jake brake works?
Its not firing any more fuel, its keeping the exhaust valves open and relieving compression therefore breaking with the engine. There is no fuel economy to be lost, or atleast i havent seen any.

 

ignorant people spout that crap. I've heard it all before. Usually its from them not understanding how the engine brake functions.